The Metropolitan King County Council today made it possible for County employees to contribute to the effort to aid the millions affected by the December 26 earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia by unanimously approving an ordinance allowing the conversion of vacation time into cash that can be donated to charities assisting in the recovery efforts.

“This has been a disaster of unimaginable scope, and the response needed to assist those in need may be one of the greatest undertakings of our lifetime,” said Larry Phillips, Chair of the Metropolitan King County Council. “The people who work for King County are some of the most dedicated and generous people around, and we want to give employees another avenue to help the tsunami victims. Converting donated vacation time to dollars will help rebuild lives throughout the disaster zone, which stretches across the Indian Ocean.”

“The regional humanitarian response to the devastation caused by the tsunami has been tremendous,” said Council Vice-Chair Pete von Reichbauer. “County employees are involved in many of the efforts to aid the victims of this disaster. This proposal will give these individuals another option to help those recovering from this unbelievable tragedy.”

The legislation will allow employees to convert up to 40 hours of accrued vacation time into a cash donation that can be sent to a list of organizations that are providing relief for the millions of victims of the catastrophe. Employees will have 45 days to convert the hours to cash. Through payroll deduction the cash would then be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, CARE or Northwest Medical Teams International, Inc. as employees direct for use in the southern Asia earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s
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